Migraines

Migraines differ from the typical headache because they cause intense throbbing or pulsing in one area of the head – accompanied by other equally uncomfortable symptoms. The pain can last for only a couple of hours or linger on for days. Before and during a migraine headache, you may experience sensory warning signs, such as a tingling in one of your limbs.

Causes and Symptoms

• Hormones – such as women on their period, pregnant or undergoing menopause • Stress at home or work • Bright lights and sun glare • Smoking or secondhand smoke • Changes in sleep pattern – such as jet lag • Environmental changes – like a drop in barometric pressure • Intense physical exertion – such as too much time on the treadmill • Certain medications – including oral contraceptives and vasodilators

There are four stages that a migraine headache may enter. The first is called prodrome, which is characterized by symptoms that can appear one or two days before the actual headache. You may experience constipation, diarrhea, food cravings, hyperactivity, irritability, a stiff neck, and depression. The second stage brings auras that disrupt your sensory, motor or verbal responses – like loss of vision, feeling pins and needles on limbs, and slurred speech. Not everyone will develop an aura.

• Pain on one side of the head • Pulsating, throbbing pain • Sensitivity to light, sounds and sometimes smells • Lightheadedness, sometimes followed by fainting • Nausea and vomiting • Blurred vision